Conditions We Treat
Depression
Considered a mood disorder in which overwhelming feelings of sadness, loss of pleasure, guilt, and hopelessness interfere with daily life. People with depression also suffer from sleep problems, difficulty concentrating, fatigue and low energy, changes in appetite, and recurring thoughts of death or suicide.
It is a treatable illness, with many therapeutic options available including psychotherapy, antidepressants, or both. In general, the treatment choice depends on the degree and type of depression and other accompanying conditions. Treatment approaches also depend on age, pregnancy status, and other individual factors. In choosing treatment options, it is important for the people to be fully involved in the decision-making process.
Anxiety
Anxiety is a general feeling of being worried. Everyone experiences anxiety once in a while. People with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), however, feel anxious regardless of the situation. For them, anxiety interferes with their daily life.
Symptoms of anxiety may include:
- Muscle tension, trembling
- Feeling restless or on edge
- Fast heartbeat, tachycardia
- Fast or troubled breathing, dyspnea
- Stomach upset
- Having a hard time concentrating
- Headache
- Sweating
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
Treatment for anxiety depends on the cause. If you have an underlying physical condition, your doctor will treat it. If your anxiety has no physical cause, your doctor may recommend counseling to help you learn coping strategies and problem-solving techniques. Studies found that when used, cognitive behavioral therapy helped treat GAD. In cognitive behavioral therapy, you learn to modify or replace anxious thoughts with healthy ones. Your doctor may also suggest trying relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing. Sometimes, your doctor may prescribe medicines to help you until you have learned these techniques.
Bipolar
A mental condition in which a person has wide or extreme swings in their mood. Periods of feeling
sad and depressed may alternate with periods of being very happy and active or being cross or irritable.
The main goal of treatment is to:
- Make the episodes less frequent and severe
- Help you function well and enjoy your life at home and at work
- Prevent self-injury and suicide
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that makes it hard to tell the difference between what is real and not real. It also makes it hard to think clearly, have normal emotional responses, and act normally in social situations.
Antipsychotic drugs are the most effective treatment for schizophrenia. They change the balance of chemicals in the brain and can help control symptoms.
Substance use disorder
Substance use disorder occurs when a person's use of alcohol or another substance (drug) leads to health issues or problems at work, school, or home.
Substance use disorder is a serious condition and not easy to treat. The best care and treatment involves trained professionals.Treatment begins with recognizing the problem. Though denial is a common symptom of addiction, people who are addicted have far less denial if they are treated with empathy and respect, rather than told what to do or being confronted.
Alzheimer disease
Alzheimer disease affects the brain, causing memory problems and eventually severe problems with mental function. It gets worse over time, and people with Alzheimer disease have gradual memory loss, as well as loss of judgment, trouble concentrating, loss of language skills, personality changes, and a decline in the ability to learn new tasks. In advanced stages, people with Alzheimer disease may lose all memory and mental abilities.
Dementia
Dementia is a loss of brain function that occurs with certain diseases. It affects memory, thinking, language, judgment, and behavior.
Please call 860.314.2052 for a full list of conditions we treat